AP Rate thru MS?

[Candlelady]

Just reserved one of our week-end nights with a cash reservation through MS. Received the 25% discount but am wondering if anyone has ever received an AP rate. If so, was it better than the 25% discount?

 

[PamOKW]

I'd keep an eye out for AP discounts or other offers. They are sometimes better than 25% (some people have reported as much as 40% off). I've also heard that sometimes MS will "match" the rate you get rather than requiring you to re-book the reservation through CRO.

 

[DebbieB]

I have a 25% member discount res at OKW for May 9 & 10 (Fri & Sat) and then a points stay May 11-16. I am hoping for an AP rate too, the ones that were out last fall were in the 40% off range. Right now I'm paying $289 plus tax (rack $385), I was hoping to get that under $250 (1 bedroom), I've seen it as low as $198 during value season with AP. The code rate is $285, not worth switching it for $4.

 

[Candlelady]

Thanks for the responses. Normally I would book a room at the BC then switch over to BCV. My daughters decided to join us and with the extra $25 p/person each night and then packing up everything, it's easier to just pay cash for the villa rather than move. I will see if MS will match an AP rate if one becomes available. I'm thankful the member discount is available cuz we don't own enough points for 3 week-end nights.

Originally it was supposed to be just DH and me eating and drinking around the world. Oh well, one day we'll get to go by ourselves again.

 

[aajmich]

I know nothing about the 25% member discount you are referring to or your reference to the discounted AP. Could you please elaborate. I think I might be missing out on a good thing!

The more info. the better please.

 

[DebbieB]

Members can get a 25% discount on rooms at DVC resorts, subject to availability.

Annual Passholders (AP) can also get room discounts at any WDW resort, right now there are no discounts out past 4/9, everyone is hoping they will come out for after Easter and into the summer. AP discounts are usually more than 25%.

 

[Regina]

AP rates can only be booked through Central Reservations. If one becomes available, I suggest that you book it through them and cancel the one that you made through MS. They will be unable to match it as they use a different booking system.

 

[DebbieB]

There have been reports on this board where members called MS to cancel their member discount reservation because they got an AP rate and MS then matched the rate, leaving it as a member discount room. Member discount rooms come from points inventory, AP rates come from non-points inventory, so there's probably a reason why they would rather have it from point's inventory.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

I had a member discount 25% at BCV, and also got a 40% off come back rate through CRO for the same days. MS would not match the rate I got through CRO. So, it must depend on who you talk to there. It would be nice if MS would match since MS and CRO ressies can't be officially linked.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Johnnie Fedora
I had a member discount 25% at BCV, and also got a 40% off come back rate through CRO for the same days. MS would not match the rate I got through CRO. So, it must depend on who you talk to there. It would be nice if MS would match since MS and CRO ressies can't be officially linked.

Since the rooms that are rented by MS with the Member Discount come from Member Inventory (for the sold out resorts), MS must be sure that the rooms will not be needed for a points reservation before releasing them for a cash discount.

If a resort is not sold out, member-discounted rooms often come from the developer's inventory. Members have no claim to rooms from the developer's inventory if they want to use their points.

I believe that the only time MS matches a CRO rate for a sold out resort is if there are a lot of rooms in the member inventory that are unlikely to be reserved for points, and that would otherwise go empty. I don't think it depends on who you talk to at MS.

Member discounts are great, but I for one would not be happy if MS was allowing them (before 60 days prior to arrival) and I couldn't get a room for points because of it! Again, I am talking about the sold out resorts.

 

[DebbieB]

I got mine a little over 60 days before, but it was for a Friday & Saturday (OKW). They put me on hold to get approval and then came back and booked it. My experience at OKW in May is that there are alot of empty rooms on Friday & Saturday. We checked in on Saturday last year and the parking lot for our building was pretty empty on Saturday but filled up on Sunday. I noticed when walking through that most people were checking out on Friday (we were too).